Mandibular bone transport reconstruction plate

Abstract

This device can be used to create new bone to fill a gap in the mandible after surgical excision. It uses a bone reconstruction plate as a distraction device. The reconstruction plate fixes the bone stumps on both sides of the bone gap. In the middle segment of the plate overlying the bone gap, the transport bone disc is carried on a transport unit that moves along a rail on the outer surface of the reconstruction plate.

1. A mandibular bone transport device, comprising:
 a bone reconstruction plate comprising:
 a first end configured to couple the bone reconstruction plate to a first mandibular bone segment; 
 a second end configured to couple the bone reconstruction plate to a second mandibular bone segment; 
 a transport track disposed between the first and second ends and comprising serrations; and 
 
 a transport unit distinct from the bone reconstruction plate, configured for coupling to a transport bone disc, and configured for advancing along the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate to advance the transport bone disc between the first and second mandibular bone segments, the transport unit comprising a threaded activation screw configured to interact with the serrations of the transport track to advance the transport unit along the transport track in response to rotation of the threaded activation screw; and 
 a flexible cable coupled to the threaded activation screw of the transport unit such that rotation of the flexible cable rotates the threaded activation screw to advance the transport unit along the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate. 
 
   
   
     2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of the bone reconstruction plate are connected to one another in a rigidly fixed configuration via the transport track. 
   
   
     3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bone reconstruction plate, including the first end, the second end, and the transport track, is integrally formed. 
   
   
     4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate comprises two substantially parallel guide rails configured to guide the transport unit in advancing along the transport track. 
   
   
     5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the transport unit comprises two halves configured to couple to each other such that the transport unit surrounds a portion of the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate. 
   
   
     6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the transport unit comprises:
 a first channel configured to surround a portion of the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate; and 
 a second channel configured to receive a threaded activation screw for advancing the transport unit along the transport track. 
 
   
   
     7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the transport unit comprises a sloped leading edge to facilitate passage of the transport unit through tissue in advancing along the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate. 
   
   
     8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the transport unit defines one or more openings configured to receive one or more screws to couple the transport unit to the transport bone disc. 
   
   
     9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first end of the bone reconstruction plate defines a plurality of openings configured to receive a plurality of screws to couple the first end of the bone reconstruction plate to the first mandibular bone segment, a first opening being located a first distance from the transport track and a second opening being located a second distance from the transport track, the second distance being at least twice the first distance; and 
 the second end of the bone reconstruction plate defines a plurality of openings configured to receive a plurality of screws to couple the second end of the bone reconstruction plate to the second mandibular bone segment, a first opening being located a first distance from the transport track and a second opening being located a second distance from the transport track, the second distance being at least twice the first distance; 
 such that the bone reconstruction plate is configured to rigidly fix the first mandibular bone segment to the second mandibular bone segment to prevent rotation and translation of the first and second mandibular bone segments relative to each other. 
 
   
   
     10. A method for mandibular distraction osteogenesis, comprising:
 accessing a mandibular bone transport device comprising:
 a bone reconstruction plate comprising:
 a first end configured to couple the bone reconstruction plate to a first mandibular bone segment; 
 a second end configured to couple the bone reconstruction plate to a second mandibular bone segment; and 
 a transport track disposed between the first and second ends; and 
 
 a transport unit distinct from the bone reconstruction plate, configured for coupling to a transport bone disc, and configured for advancing along the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate to advance the transport bone disc between the first and second mandibular bone segments; 
 
 coupling the transport bone disc to the transport unit; 
 coupling the first end of the bone reconstruction plate to the first mandibular bone segment; 
 coupling the second end of the bone reconstruction plate to the second mandibular bone segment; and 
 advancing the transport unit along the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate to advance the transport bone disc between the first and second mandibular bone segments. 
 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, while the first and second ends of the bone reconstruction plate are coupled to the first and second mandibular bone segments:
 decoupling the transport unit from the transport bone disc; and 
 decoupling the transport unit from the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate. 
 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second ends of the bone reconstruction plate are connected to one another in a rigidly fixed configuration via the transport track. 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the bone reconstruction plate, including the first end, the second end, and the transport track, is integrally formed. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 10 , wherein advancing the transport unit along the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate comprises rotating a threaded activation screw of the transport unit such that the threaded activation screw interacts with serrations of the transport track to advance the transport unit along the transport track. 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein rotating the threaded activation screw of the transport unit comprises rotating a flexible cable coupled to the threaded activation screw to advance the transport unit along the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate. 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate comprises two substantially parallel guide rails that guide the transport unit in advancing along the transport track. 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transport unit comprises two halves that couple to each other such that the transport unit surrounds a portion of the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate. 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transport unit comprises:
 a first channel that surrounds a portion of the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate; and 
 a second channel that receives a threaded activation screw for advancing the transport unit along the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate. 
 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transport unit comprises a sloped leading edge that facilitates passage of the transport unit through tissue in advancing along the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate. 
   
   
     20. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the transport unit defines one or more openings that receive one or more screws to couple the transport unit to the transport bone disc. 
   
   
     21. The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first end of the bone reconstruction plate defines a plurality of openings that receive a plurality of screws to couple the first end of the bone reconstruction plate to the first mandibular bone segment, a first opening being located a first distance from the transport track and a second opening being located a second distance from the transport track, the second distance being at least twice the first distance; and 
 the second end of the bone reconstruction plate defines a plurality of openings that receive a plurality of screws to couple the second end of the bone reconstruction plate to the second mandibular bone segment, a first opening being located a first distance from the transport track and a second opening being located a second distance from the transport track, the second distance being at least twice the first distance; 
 such that the bone reconstruction plate rigidly fixes the first mandibular bone segment to the second mandibular bone segment to prevent rotation and translation of the first and second mandibular bone segments relative to each other. 
 
   
   
     22. A mandibular bone transport device, comprising:
 an integrally formed bone reconstruction plate comprising:
 a first end configured to couple the bone reconstruction plate to a first mandibular bone segment; 
 a second end configured to couple the bone reconstruction plate to a second mandibular bone segment; and 
 a transport track rigidly connecting the first end to the second end, comprising:
 two substantially parallel guide rails; and 
 serrations disposed between the guide rails; 
 
 
 a transport unit distinct from the bone reconstruction plate, configured for coupling to a transport bone disc, and comprising:
 two halves configured to couple to each other such that the transport unit surrounds a portion of the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate; and 
 a threaded activation screw configured to interact with the serrations of the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate to advance the transport unit along the guide rails of the transport track to advance the transport bone disc between the first and second bone segments in response to rotation of the threaded activation screw; and 
 
 a flexible cable coupled to the threaded activation screw of the transport unit such that rotation of the flexible cable rotates the threaded activation screw to advance the transport unit along the transport track of the bone reconstruction plate. 
 
   
   
     23. The device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the first end of the bone reconstruction plate defines a plurality of openings configured to receive a plurality of screws to couple the first end of the bone reconstruction plate to the first mandibular bone segment, a first opening being located a first distance from the transport track and a second opening being located a second distance from the transport track, the second distance being at least twice the first distance; and 
 the second end of the bone reconstruction plate defines a plurality of openings configured to receive a plurality of screws to couple the second end of the bone reconstruction plate to the second mandibular bone segment, a first opening being located a first distance from the transport track and a second opening being located a second distance from the transport track, the second distance being at least twice the first distance; 
 such that the bone reconstruction plate is configured to rigidly fix the first mandibular bone segment to the second mandibular bone segment to prevent rotation and translation of the first and second mandibular bone segments relative to each other.